A4 Art Australia 2019
at the Herring Island Gallery
23-24 & 30-31 MARCH,
6-7, 13-14 & 20-22 APRIL
as part of the Herring Island Summer Arts Festival 2019
Review by Karen Foley
On 23 April, Robert Lee, president of CAS, Contemporary Art Society of Victoria (established 1938), welcomed people at the opening of the sixth Annual A4 Art Australia at the Gallery on Herring Island. It was another beautiful day in Melbourne for the event. Robert thanked the volunteers for all their work setting up this exhibition of 454 artworks in total. Well done. Robert gave special thanks to our sponsors Parks Victoria and City of Stonnington for their continuing support of the festival.
At the opening of A4 Art Australia 2019 - Karen and Susan with refreshments
The idea behind A4 Art Australia is to give Australian artists the opportunity to exhibit their artwork, at low cost, and support metropolitan, rural and regional artists across our vast continent.
As usual, the subject matter and imagination of the artists were diverse: from real and abstract landscapes and architecture; to figure studies and studies of the nature world; an array of animals real and mythical and fantasy works. The range of media used was limitless: including acrylic, bronze, canvas, ceramic, charcoal, collage, crayon, copper wire, drypoint etching, digital print, enamel, fabric, giclee print, gouache, graphite, handmade paper, balsa wood, recycled paper, ink, inkjet print, linocut, mixed media, mono print, muslin, oil pastel, pastel, plastic, photography, ricepaper, shellac, stoneware clay, textile, wire, wood, woodcut, woodblock print and watercolours. We believe this show demonstrates the range of talent and creativity of Australian artists!
At the opening of A4 Art Australia 2019 - just some of the 454 artworks on display
There was quite a large crowd of artists and friends attending the opening with refreshments and finger food provided. All works are for sale and in the first two hours we sold 12 works. By purchasing a work you are not only getting a great artwork but you are showing your support Australian artists. 153 artists supplied 454 artworks and it looked impressive lining the walls of the gallery. The gallery hanging system shows the works in their best light. The black frames help make the exhibition cohesive and let the viewer focus on the content within the frame. I would say, I felt the standard of the works to be the best A4 show we have presented to the public.
At the opening of A4 Art Australia 2019 - some of the opening crowd
Susan Gustafson produced Emoji and Untitled, screenprints of patterned fish and stylized plant life reminiscent of island paintings very graphic and bold.
Heather King’s brightly coloured Bubbles in pastel and pen, Buttons in ink pens, Jewelled in watercolour and Mirrored in ink pens, all glow with the artist’s love of vibrant colour.
Jessie Yvette Journaoud-Ryan’s recycled crockery artworks in 3D show us another way to explore subject matter and themes such as Narcissus, Mimicry IV, Mimicry III and Fungi Fetish 1/4. Very playful and creative.
Thalia Andrews’ beautiful acrylic paintings Sunset 1 and Sunset 2 show mastery of the medium.
Betty Knight’s ceramic 3D works Lily and Mother and Child are gentle and kind in their shape and in their nature. Such softness in touch. Beautiful.
Kylie Castan focused on flowers in watercolour, Orchids, Gardenias and Hydrangeas.
So much to see and appreciate at this exhibition. Look online www.contemporaryartsociety.org.au to see all the artworks from the 2019 A4 Art Australia show